I remember as a young child travelling from Waterloo, via Templecombe. Here there would be a wait for the train to Shillingstone and a chance to have a drink in the station buffet. Once on board the train the thrill of journey to Shillingstone. On arrival the walking over the line going through the station building to the forecourt to our waiting taxi bound for Child Okeford order by my aunt and uncle. I did feel like royalty. Mum's abiding memory was the oil lamps still in situ.

@C42Microlightflyer

6 жыл бұрын

I grew up in child okeford, my parents told me I went on the train quite a few times from shiliingstone, sadly I was to young to remember, so wish I could.

The first thing to be destroyed was the signalling, just incase there was any silly notion to bring the line back. Then the track was lifted. On the night the line closed after all the trains had gone there was one last steam movement ( the very last ) as one engine in steam towed 2 dead engines with the rods off from bath MPD, I rode this train with about a dozen others from Shillingstone to Blandford ! The ride of a lifetime !

We all have to sit in the horrendous gridlock traffic jams caused by road works and nutters killing themselves driving dangerously! It is time to COMPULSORY PURCHASE back as many track beds as possible and restore our old glorious railway network as it was BEFORE Beeching !

It really does break my heart to see first hand what they did to this line, it was ripped up far too quickly in my view.

I’ve been to Shillingstone!

The line can be restored and buildings don't last for ever and can be removed. It doesn't have re exactly follow the old route but the vast majority of it hasn't be built on and is now cycle ways and walkways which have to give way to future railway expansion/restoration. With the dwindling oil reserves and rising costs of fuel, not to mention the present railway network at peak capacity, it is very likely that it will be restored in the not too distant future.

There's an 'E' on the end of Shillingston !

I used to run from the top of the Milldown,where I used to live,bottom of Tinpot lane, just to see the train pass under the iron bridge.Also remember the train crew throwing bones to the dog who belonged to the local R.C. father,I was no more than 4 years old,1962,just before the bad winter

@tedgoater

4 жыл бұрын

Father Pedrick. He had a footplate ride to Bath and back on the Pines with his 'attractive housekeeper' on 4th January 1962.

Thank you Gigagannet, added to a playlist...

I was very surprised to see my DVD on ,you tube without the credits of the people that filmed it, transferred it from film to video etc.

In theory could come back as Government's have compulsory purchase powers but pretty unlikely I would have thought. at least for the next few years. although traffic is grinding to a halt on the roads so something will have to be done. Think part of the problem was that when train services closed the government had no choice but to sell the land back to the family who they bought it from in Victorian times if indeed they wanted to buy it. Think that was part of the compulsory purchase conditions. They probably never imagined that this would ever happen.

It's coming back.

@Stranger2011

9 жыл бұрын

It physically can't come back, things have been built over the old like locations

@JP_TaVeryMuch

7 ай бұрын

There's a whole wonderland of volunteer run railway at Shillingstone now: station, track, buildings, locos and wagons. North Dorset Railway is their site.

did it call at stalbridge

must morning after night and it will be able

ShillingstonE not Shillingston! Alternatively, Shilling Okeford!

@JP_TaVeryMuch

7 ай бұрын

But it's pronounced 'stun' so perhaps that's why. What's your position on the spelling of the other village it served? Child/e Oak/Okeford? Even the various notice boards in the village can't agree.

@mikelove6502

7 ай бұрын

It's properly spelled Shillingstone, and known locally as Shill....

@JP_TaVeryMuch

7 ай бұрын

@@mikelove6502 And Ye olde Childe Okeforde, what's the word on the street/hill fort about that, d'you know?